What Is Cervical Disc Degeneration Disease? Cervical disc degeneration is one of the main causes of neck pain and radiating arm pain. It’s a condition characterized by symptoms that affect your normal, daily life, such as: - Stiffening of your neck - Chronic upper back pain - Persistent neck discomfort If you consistently experience neck and arm pain, make an appointment with Dr. Branko Skovrlj, an experienced, renowned spine specialist, one of the few in the country who focuses on spine surgery. Dr. Skovrji’s spinal medicine practice — NU-Spine, The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, in Edison, New Jersey — is a state-of-the-art facility where you receive comprehensive, cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical spine treatments. Why Does Cervical Spine Degeneration Happen? Your neck’s flexibility allows you to turn your head in almost all directions. The neck is made up of: - Seven bones called vertebrae that provide stability, flexibility and protection for your spinal cord. - Discs between the vertebrae that are filled with a cushioning gel-like substance. Discs act as shock absorbers. This complex structure makes it possible for your spine and neck to bend and twist. With age, these natural shock absorbers tend to become more brittle and may even leak. In medical terms, this is known as cervical degeneration. Once the cushion between the vertebrae narrows, your nerve roots my be pinched, which can evolve into cervical degenerative disc disease. What Are Symptoms of Cervical Degeneration Disease? In addition to extensive diagnostic tests, your spine specialist considers your symptoms, how long you’ve had them and when they’re most frequent. The most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine include: - Pain that ranges from mildly annoying neck discomfort to debilitating neck pain that prevents you from continuing your daily activities - Pain and stiffness in your back that’s aggravated by movement and relieved with rest - Sharp or electric shock-like feelings, indicative of nerve pain, that radiate down the shoulder into your arms, hands or fingers - Neurological symptoms in your arms, fingers or hands, such as numbness, pins-and-needles tingling or weakness that radiates into the arm and hand Other less common symptoms include: - Difficulty moving your arms and legs - Trouble with coordination and balance - Loss of bowel and/or bladder control Other Than Age, What Are the Risk Factors? Age is the leading cause of cervical degeneration. It’s natural for the discs in the cervical spine to break down due to wear and tear. Those who work in jobs that require extensive lifting and continual arm movement often experience degeneration at an earlier age than those who don’t. Athletes, such as pitchers, quarterbacks and tennis players, accelerate the wear and tear. Other risk factors lead to disc degeneration developing sooner and becoming symptomatic. These additional risk factors include: - Obesity and being overweight - Genetics - Smoking, which causes cell damage Dr. Skovrlj offers personalized spinal disease diagnosis and treatment. The whole staff welcomes you to a new era in spine care by relying on the most advanced, minimally-invasive spine procedures to get you back to an active lifestyle. Contact NU-Spine today for comprehensive treatments for spinal disorders in Edison, NJ. NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute 561 US Hwy 1 South Edison, NJ 08817 (732) 640-8203 8 Brick Plaza, Brick, NJ 08723 (732) 640-8203 Web Address https://www.nu-spine.com E-mail info@nu-spine.com Our locations on the map: Edison https://goo.gl/maps/3b5Eg9xKyta6wkQH8 Brick https://www.google.com/maps?cid=3869913179366156036 Nearby Locations: Edison | New Brunswick | East Brunswick | Sayreville | Highland Park 08817 | 08901 | 08816 | 08904 Nearby Locations: Arrowhead Village | Leisure Village | Leisure Village East | West Osbornsville | Adamston 08724 | 08701 | 08723 Working Hours: Monday: 8AM–8PM Tuesday: 8AM–8PM Wednesday: 8AM–8PM Thursday: 8AM–8PM Friday: 8AM–8PM Saturday: 8AM–8PM Sunday: 8AM–8PM Payment : cash, check, credit cards.